If you couldn't tell from my recent Instagram posts, I've been having a pretty serious case of post-vacation blues. Just a few weeks ago, I was happily soaking up the sun in Europe while sipping on a (non-virgin) ice cold piña colada (the legal drinking age in Europe is 18!!). Now that I'm back home, I'm quickly realizing how truly short summer vacation is and how many responsibilities I have to face in the upcoming weeks. So, in order to escape the reality of my stressful college life, why not relive my vacation in a fun lil travel post!
V E N I CE , I T A L Y
The first two days of my Europe trip were spent in the beautiful city of Venezia, also known as "The Floating City". Ever since I was a kid, I've always imagined standing on a bridge above the Grand Canal and riding in an ornate gondola accompanied by a singing gondolier. Sadly, I only got to experience half of that dream thanks to a random thunder storm hitting us the exact moment my family was supposed to get on a gondola. I was pretty bummed out, but the grandeur of the city definitely made up for it. Venice has a unique charm about it, from its historical bridges that connect the entire city to its pastel buildings that have been floating on water for over 1,000 years. My family and I spent two days exploring every part of Venice. We stood on the famous Rialto Bridge, window-shopped around St. Mark's Square (because all the shops were designer), and ate an unhealthy amount of gelato. At the end of the day, we slept at the Hotel Palazzo Giovanelli, a 16th-century palace-turned hotel where Mozart and his family once briefly lived in.
S A N T O R I N I , G R E E C E
Throughout this whole vacation, I was most excited to see Santorini, probably because Mamma Mia and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants hyped me up for this island since I was 10 years old. Santorini, and especially the town of Oia, did not disappoint, though I do wish we visited during the off-peak season. With July being one of the busiest times for tourists to visit, the area was insanely crowded with people from all walks of life. There were five different cruise ships docked on the island, including the one my family and I were on. Although Oia was a bit crammed and it was burning hot outside, the views were still breathtaking. If you ever visit, make sure to find a quiet ledge for good photos and a panoramic view of the island. Also, you gotta try the gyros there because not only are they delicious, but they're also innovative. They put fries inside their gyros. What a concept.
M Y K O N O S , G R E E C E
This is probably an unpopular opinion, but I enjoyed Mykonos more than Santorini when I visited. Maybe it's because I'm from Jersey, so my love for beaches runs in my veins, but the beaches in Jersey got nothing on the stunning shores of Mykonos. The water there was actually crystal clear and a perfect tint of blue. Aside from the many beaches that make up the island, the village of Chora is also a must-see for its cute boutiques, restaurants and windmills. Chora is iconic for its 16th century white windmills, which can be seen from every part of the village. For a food break, I tried a traditional greek sausage that was downed with Greece's national alcoholic drink - Ozou. If you know me, you know that I have an embarrassingly low alcohol tolerance, so a couple shots of this drink could easily get me drunk. It wasn't my favorite liquor (the aftertaste was reminiscent of black licorice), but who actually enjoys the taste of 40% alcohol??
D U B R O V N I K , C R O A T I A
Our last stop on this Europe adventure was Dubrovnik, Croatia, a.k.a. the city where Game of Thrones was filmed! I'm not an avid watcher of the show, though it was still really fascinating to see the exact location where the plot and characters came to life. And honestly, Dubrovnik was by far my favorite city I visited during my whole eight-day trip. The thing that really won me over was the historic old town that's encircled by huge stone walls. It truly feels like you're walking right into the medieval times as you enter the rustic iron gates of the town. There's also so much to do and see here - monasteries, shops, restaurants, forts, towers, the list goes on.
Overall, my cruise around Europe was an amazing experience. I'm so thankful that I have the opportunity to travel to such incredible places, and I cannot wait to come back here someday (you know, when I'm employed at a big media company and living my best life in NYC).
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